Environmental Specialist 1 - Water Quality - Job ID 61084
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Job Summary
This posting may be used to fill more than one temporary Environmental Specialist 1 position. Typically, incumbents in this role will leave to conduct field work on Monday morning and return Thursday evening (from our Saint Paul office). They will be in travel status, working in greater Minnesota to collect water chemistry samples from lakes, streams, and rivers at about 150 sites in 8 major watersheds during the field season. Lodging and meals are provided. Monitoring work occurs from April to October (anticipated work dates are April 3, 2023 – October 31, 2023).
The incumbent will provide specific technical skills as a water chemistry monitoring team lead conducting ambient water quality monitoring for data analysis and condition assessment. In addition, the incumbent will also lead seasonal staff to conduct surface water monitoring activities.
Duties include:
Support in planning and preparing for field season
Conduct lake and stream monitoring
Process samples in the field and laboratory
Perform data entry and data interpretation
This is great experience if you are interested in working outdoors and learning about the environment. You will become familiar with MPCA protocols in lake and river condition monitoring and numerous water chemistry parameters. Prior lab or field experience through previous work and/or in a lab/school setting is helpful.
Please be sure to specifically mention your experience and/or related coursework in your resume and/or cover letter. We are unable to guess what you have or haven’t learned based on a specific degree from a specific institution. This is a crew lead position, and the incumbent must be able to possess good conflict resolution and communication skills. Interaction with the public is often
necessary. Note that related coursework or professional experience in aquatic ecology, biology, limnology, hydrology should be highlighted.
Work hours are typically Monday through Thursday, 10-hour days with overnight travel. The incumbent must have the ability to work and collaborate with their team while in the field.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a water related science, environmental protection, or closely related field
OR a technical environmental degree (e.g., Natural Resources Technology A.A.S.) AND one year of technical/professional-level environmental protection experience
OR two years of technical/professional-level environmental protection experience
Ability to work and collaborate with their team while in the field
Preferred Qualifications
Leadership experience in prior work, civic, or school projects
Coursework in aquatic ecology, biology, limnology, and/or hydrology
Coursework and/or experience in collecting ecological data or recording observations in a field setting
Coursework and/or knowledge of lake limnological models and water quality parameters
Experience working with spreadsheets, statistical software packages, and word processing software
Experience and/or coursework using GPS and/or GIS equipment and software
Physical Requirements
Must be physically able to perform field work associated with monitoring projects. This includes driving a state vehicle, loading/unloading vehicles and boats with field equipment, carrying equipment to sites, launching boats, or portaging canoes.
Frequently may need to lift and carry approximately 50 pounds in the water or over land. Capable of moderate physical exertion in summer heat and sun.
Additional Requirements
A driver’s license is an essential function of this position. This requires possession of an unrestricted Class D Driver’s License. The job offer is contingent on confirmation of a valid driver’s license AND a satisfactory DLR check.
Requires a Class D Driver's License: a single unit vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds. This is a basic driver's license. Operators may also tow vehicles/trailers as long as the gross combination weight does not exceed 26,000 pounds.